Tomorrow, Saturday, June 23—
Invitation to THE PEOPLE’S VOICE
ALL members of the Leech Lake, Red Lake, and White Earth Reservations, including tribal leaders, and ALL concerned people of the surrounding communities, are invited to THE PEOPLE’S VOICE.
DATE: Saturday, June 23
TIME: 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
REGISTRATION: 9:30 A.M.
LOCATION: People’s Church
824 American Avenue NW
Bemidji
Lunch will be provided
The purpose is to give ALL people the opportunity to speak and listen to issues and concerns of reservation and surrounding community life. ALL ISSUES AND CONCERNS are on the table: poverty, high suicide rate, racist language, crime, education, casino and gaming issues, health and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, sovereignty, tribal government, Constitutional rights, Federal Indian policy, human and civil rights.
Also invited are: Governor Dayton, Rep. John Persell, Senator John Carlson (cannot attend due to a prior commitment), Senators Klobuchar and Franken. We are awaiting responses.
THE PEOPLE’S VOICE is a follow-up gathering of Native American and concerned citizens to the Council of Conversation held in Minneapolis on April 21 at the Division of Indian Works.
THE PEOPLE’S VOICE is sponsored by the Native American Justice Task Force, consisting of Native Americans, concerned citizens, and the Joint Peace with Justice Committee of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Questions and Registration: contact Curtis Buckanaga, 218-407-2801. Hope to see you.
The People’s Voice Process
9:30 Registration (Name tags, sign-in with name, phone number, address, reservation designation, and email)
10:00 Welcome and Introductions (name, where from) – Ron
10:10 Opening Comments
10:20 The PURPOSE for the gathering: First, to give VOICE to the Native American and all concerned to the truth of life issues
within the NA and surrounding communities. Second, to form
ACTION CIRCLES to address the issues. Third, to seek the
COMMON GOOD. We all do better when we all to better.
10:25 Common Covenant: 1) Everyone has VOICE, something to say; 2)Each circle will do a Talking Circle (TC) which means: one person talks at a time with NO INTERRUPTIONS and all
others LISTEN. Then onto the next person until all in the circle
have spoken; 3) After all have spoken, the table is open to
everyone to speak, one at a time, no interruptions, all listen.
THERE WILL BE A NOTE TAKER WHO WILL REPORT WHAT HAS BEEN SAID.
10:30 TC-1: Considering where I am living, what are the ISSUES or SORROWS that concern you? (Each person-2 minutes, then open sharing TC style) Work in reservation groups, Native American and community people together. All issues are connected. We are all part of the circle. Groups of 7.
10:50 Report in – Common sharing
11:15 PERSONAL VOICES: Curtis Buckanaga, Howard Hanson,
Pastor Bob Kelly
11:35 Open sharing and formation of ACTION CIRCLES with each reservation and interest group working independently. One
circle-one issue. Max of TWO issues. Consider separate AC on sovereignty, tribal government, Constitution issues.
12:00 LUNCH
1:00 PEOPLE form into ACTION CIRCLES
1:05 ACs design ACTION PLANS that are DEFINABLE, MANAGEABLE and ACHIEVABLE. Use the IPOPO design:
I: DEFINE the ISSUE/sorrow? List the characteristics that
define and clarify the IS and what needs to be done.
Define the overall goal in addressing the issue. What are the barriers and challenges? Why this issue? P: What PEOPLE are important to talk to who can provide knowledge and expertise about the IS? Local state, and federal leaders? People to address the specifics.
O: What ORGANIZATIONS are important to contact who can help address the IS? What place can the local media play? What is the place of the Tribal Council? Address the specifics.
P: Establish a plan: Who will contact the people and organizations? When will you meet again? Get names, addresses, phone numbers, emails. Must meet often. Choose a leader.
IS IT FAIR TO ASSUME THAT EVERYONE HERE
WILL BE PART OF THE ACTION COUNCIL ON
YOUR RESERVATION? IN YOUR COMMUNITY?
1:30 Report from each ACTION CIRCLE. Cross in-put.
2:00 Are there CRITICAL ISSUES that we need to address apart from what we are have already agreed? Tribal Council? Casino profits? Sovereignty? Civil rights? IF SO, WHO?
2:15 Next Steps: Each reservation AC select three people to serve on a UNIFIED ACTION COUNCIL. Is this necessary? Is there a willingness to work together?
2:20 Clarifications? Evaluation of TPV? Did we do what you hoped? Did you feel had the opportunity to give VOICE to your
concerns? Do you feel you were LISTENED to? Do you feel that ACTION COUNCILS were formed to address your concerns? Do you feel what happened today addressed the COMMON GOOD?
2:30 Talking Circle
4:00 Home